If you're a mountain biker who wants to do it all, then you need a versatile trail bike that can climb as well as it descends. Lucky for you, there’s a whole slew of modern, mid-travel, quiver-killing mountain bikes that can do exactly that. And at the top of the pile are two familiar names — the Specialized Stumpjumper and the Specialized Epic Evo.
For decades, the Stumpjumper has been Specialized’s flagship trail bike. It used to be the easy choice for anyone looking for a do-it-all mountain bike. But things are a bit more complicated now that Specialized also offers the beefed-up Epic Evo. So how do you choose between the two? We explain the differences, so you can decide which bike is better for you.
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Specialized Stumpjumper vs. Epic Evo overview
|
Model |
Stumpjumper |
Epic Evo |
|
Frame material |
FACT 11m carbon |
FACT 11m carbon |
|
S-Works option |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Wheel size |
29” |
29” |
|
Rear travel |
130mm |
110mm |
|
Fork travel |
140mm |
120mm |
|
Head angle |
65° / 65.5° |
66.5° |
|
Average weight |
~26-30lbs |
~23-27lbs |
|
Internal downtube storage |
Yes |
No |
|
Bottle cage mounts |
1 |
2 |
The current Stumpjumper, or “Stumpy,” has been in the Specialized line-up since 1981. In fact, it’s often considered the first mass-production mountain bike. It was revised for the 2021 model year with a new, more efficient suspension system and longer and slacker geometry. As a mid-travel trail bike, it’s designed to be as versatile as possible and can handle everything from smooth flow trails to gnarly enduro tracks. To learn more about how the Stumpjumper has changed over the years, check out our Stumpjumper Buyer’s Guide.
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The Epic Evo is based on the Epic, Specialized’s flagship XC race bike. The Evo version, however, has more suspension travel and more relaxed geometry, turning it into a versatile short-travel trail bike. Most importantly, it omits the race-focused Brain suspension system used on the standard Epic. These changes make it more capable when riding downhill. Some use the word “downcountry” to describe bikes like the Epic Evo, which take an XC bike frame and beef it up with gravity-oriented components. For riders who value efficiency, it may be a better option than a mid-travel trail bike.
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To compare the two platforms, we’re going to take a closer look at three key areas: suspension, geometry, and weight. For the purposes of this comparison, we are only looking at the carbon Stumpjumper as the budget alloy Stumpjumper uses a different frame and suspension design.
Specialized Stumpjumper vs. Epic Evo: Suspension
|
Model |
Stumpjumper |
Epic Evo |
|
Rear travel |
130mm |
110mm |
|
Fork travel |
140mm |
120mm |
|
Suspension system |
Flex stay |
Flex stay |
|
Shock size |
190x45mm |
190x40mm |
|
Max fork travel |
150mm |
130mm |
For years, the Stumpjumper used Specialized’s FSR suspension system. It stands for “Future Shock Rear,” and it was essentially a "four-bar" or "Horst-link" design. It’s one of the most common systems on the market.
The Stumpjumper uses light and flexible seat stays to control its 130mm of travel.
The 2021+ Stumpjumper, however, is the first full-suspension Stumpjumper to not use an FSR suspension system (this only applies to carbon models. The alloy Stumpjumper still uses FSR). Instead, it has switched to a linkage-driven single pivot design with carbon flex-stays. This eliminated the pivot usually found in the chainstay which reduced weight and improved pedaling efficiency. It’s actually the same system used on the new 2021+ Specialized Epic and Epic Evo, and flex stay suspension systems are currently the most popular design used on XC race bikes that prioritize efficiency and weight.
With this change, Specialized has dramatically improved the Stumpjumper’s climbing abilities, making it comparable to many XC bikes. On the flip side, it won’t absorb harsh impacts like the old FSR system (if you want that, check out the enduro-oriented Stumpjumper Evo). But with 130mm of travel, it’s enough to handle rugged trails and it provides the perfect compromise between uphill and downhill performance. The Stumpjumper also has a suspension flip-chip that can be flipped between a high position for more agility and a low position for more downhill stability.
With 110mm of travel, the Epic Evo is more capable than most XC bikes.
The Epic Evo also uses flex stays, but it is based on the XC-oriented 100mm Epic platform. It adds 10mm of travel by using a longer shock and it also omits the Brain suspension system used on the standard Epic which automatically locks the suspension out for maximum efficiency. The Epic Evo’s suspension is still tuned for high pedaling efficiency and it uses a shock with an “XC tune” that feels stiffer and has less pedal bob. By adding 10mm of travel and getting rid of the Brain, the Epic Evo greatly improves on the standard Epic's downhill capabilities. It will keep up with the Stumpjumper going down all but the roughest trails.
Bottom line: If you occasionally venture onto steep and gnarly trails with big features, the extra cushion of the Stumpjumper will be preferable. The shorter travel and firmer feeling Epic Evo will feel faster and more fun on mellow or tight and twisty trails. For climbing, the Epic Evo is more efficient bike. The Stumpjumper has slightly better downhill performance.
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Specialized Stumpjumper vs. Epic Evo: Geometry
|
Model |
Stumpjumper (low/high - S4) |
Epic Evo (L) |
|
Head angle |
65° / 65.5° |
66.5° |
|
Seat angle |
76° / 76.5° |
74.5° |
|
Stack |
632mm / 627mm |
611mm |
|
Reach |
475mm / 480mm |
460mm |
|
Chainstay |
432mm |
438mm |
|
Wheelbase |
1228mm |
1194mm |
|
BB drop |
42mm / 35mm |
36mm |
You may notice that the Stumpjumper and the Epic Evo use different sizing systems. The Stumpjumper uses Specialized’s new “S-sizing” system. S-Sizing does away with traditional small, medium, and large sizes, and focuses on reach and wheelbase. Standover clearance and stack height remain relatively low across sizes, so riders can choose their size based on their desired bike length. To learn more about S-Sizing, check out our post explaining S-Sizing.
S-Sizing is used on Specialized’s latest trail, enduro, and downhill bikes, but XC bikes, like the Epic, and thus the Epic EVO, still use conventional small, medium, and large sizing. Similar to road bikes, XC bikes prioritize an efficient seated pedaling position, which can be at odds with abnormally long frame reach. Also, XC bikes often can't have short seat tubes or extra-low stand-over if they want to fit multiple water bottle mounts inside the frame (the Epic Evo can fit two bottles while the Stumpjumper can only fit one). This might change in the future, but for now, Specialized only applies S-Sizing to bikes with more gravity-oriented intentions.
The Specialized Stumpjumper will be a little more comfortable hucking off big features.
Take a look at the actual geometry numbers for comparable sizes, and you’ll see that the Stumpjumper is clearly the more downhill focused of the two. The head angle is slacker, the reach and wheelbase are longer, and the bottom bracket is lower (in the low position). This means the Stumpjumper will feel more stable on steep and fast downhill trails. The Epic Evo will feel more agile than the Stumpjumper, and it may hit its limits sooner than the Stumpjumper, but remember that is still longer and slacker than most XC bikes and comparable to many mid-travel trail bikes in terms of downhill performance.
Bottom line: If you need extra confidence to descend fast, steep, or technical trails, then the extra stability of the Stumpjumper will work in your favor. If you want your bike to feel a bit more racey and agile, especially on tight tracks, then the Epic Evo will fit the bill.
Specialized Stumpjumper vs. Epic Evo: Weight
|
Model |
Stumpjumper |
Epic Evo |
|
Frame weight |
2,420g |
1,659g |
|
Average complete weight |
~26-30lbs |
~23-27lbs |
This winner here is pretty clear cut. The Epic Evo is lighter than the Stumpjumper. That’s not surprising, since the Epic Evo is based on an XC bike. What's really impressive though is the Epic Evo frame is actually the lightest full-suspension frame Specialized has ever produced. By ditching the extra hardware needed for the Brain suspension system, it actually saves 100 grams over the standard Epic.
The Stumpjumper frame is actually impressively light for a full-suspension mountain bike, but it’s still over a pound and a half heavier than the Epic Evo’s frame. There are a couple of reasons for this. The Stumpjumper isn’t shaving grams for racing, so its frame is built a bit more robust to handle more abuse. Plus, it has an integrated storage compartment in the downtube. To accommodate this, the downtube needs to be made physically bigger and stiffer. The lighter Epic Evo lacks downtube storage, though it is compatible with Specialized’s external S.W.A.T. bolt-on storage box.
Based on actual bikes weighed here at The Pro’s Closet, complete Stumpjumper builds are generally a few pounds heavier than equivalent Epic Evo builds. Stumpjumpers are generally built with components, like forks and wheels, that are more downhill-oriented and slightly heavier.
Bottom line: The feathery Epic Evo is the choice for weight weenies. But don’t lose too much sleep over that, because bike weight doesn’t matter as much as you think.
Specialized Stumpjumper vs. Epic Evo: Final thoughts
The Specialized Epic Evo can handle rowdy terrain.
Overall, both bikes climb well and both bikes descend well. But the Epic Evo will climb slightly better, and the Stumpjumper will descend slightly better. In practice, the difference is fairly subtle, and ultimately, rider skill makes the biggest difference. That being said, here are my suggestions…
Buy the Specialized Stumpjumper if:
- You see yourself occasionally venturing onto black and double-black downhills.
- You need extra comfort and/or confidence on rough trails.
- You want the hidden internal downtube storage.
- You can’t decide which bike to get…
Buy the Specialized Epic Evo if:
- You occasionally race XC but don’t need a dedicated race bike.
- You care about climbing fast as much as descending fast.
- You want to carry two water bottles in the frame.
- You already own a bigger travel bike…
Personally, I chose the Epic Evo. I cover all of my reasons in the “Why I bought an Epic Evo” post, but the gist is that I wanted a trail bike that could handle rugged Colorado trails but also the occasional XC race. For me, the Epic Evo struck the perfect balance between efficiency, speed, and downhill capability. That said, I also own a long travel bike for enduro racing and downhill bike parks. If I had to do everything on one bike, my pick would be the longer travel Stumpjumper.
If you’ve made it this far and still don't know which bike to pick for your trails or riding style, then that probably means the Stumpjumper is the right answer. It sits right in the middle between XC and enduro, so it will work for the widest range of riders, on the widest range of trails.
Which bike would you pick? Let me know in the comments!
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Photos courtesy of Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc.
